Ornamental display device



Nov. 13, 1934. H. w. TUCKER ET AL 1,980,453

ORNAMENTAL DI S PLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1932 I N V EN TORS fi h 4%; 5.14m

A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE Harry W. Tucker, Shaker Heights, Ohio, and

William S. McLeish, New York, N. Y.

Application December 23, 1932, Serial No. 648,531

6 Claims.

This invention relates to ornamental display devices and is particularly adapted to the display of pictures and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus for displaying fiat articles which will present a pleasing effect to the eye.

I Another object is to provide an improved display apparatus which will be simple in construction.

Another object is to provide display apparatus which will be economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an improved display apparatus with which pictures or the like may be easily assembled.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of two practical embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention applied to a picture held within a frame of somewhat modernistic design;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale taken on the line II]1 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a perspective view to a reduced scale of some of the parts illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of some of the parts illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figure 1 a picture frame is shown having a base 1 provided with two upwardly extending cylindrical posts 2 and 3, each recessed along the edge facing the other, as indicated at 4. Sup-. ported upon the base and having its edges held within the recesses are two panes of glass 5 with bevelled edges 6. Between these panes and arranged back to back are pictures 7 and 8 inserted in a mat-like structure which is best illustrated in Figure 3.

This structure consists of pieces of paper, cardboard, cloth or other flexible material 9 and ins 10. shown as of rectangular configuration andv reception of the pictures above mentioned, one of which is shown in'Figure 3 as partially inserted into the pocket formed by pieces 10 and 11.

In practice, it is convenient to make the two flaps 11 of a single continuous sheet of material which may serve as a hinge between the two mat-like pieces 9 and 10. The flaps serve to assist in locating the pictures behind the mats and to retain them in position while being placed between the panes of glass, and while the entire assembly is being placed into the supporting structure.

The mat portions 9 and 10 are preferably colored and the two, used in one frame may be of the same or different colors. The openings in the mats are smaller than the unbevelled portion of, the glass panes, and the colored border about the picture, viewed through both the bevelled edges and the fiat portion of the glass panes, produces an optical illusion, making the picture appear to be surrounded with a colored frame of considerable depth.

In Figures 4 and 5, mats 19 and 20 similar to those above described are provided, and secured to these mats is a layer of Cellophane or similar transparent material 21. A flap 22, which may also be of Cellophane, is provided with a central aperture 23, being secured to the sheet 21 about three sides. I

The pictures may be inserted between the sheets 21 and 22, adjusted into position by friction of the finger reaching through aperture 23, and the edges of the mats inserted in slots 24 formed 'in a'base 25 of any suitable material, such as wood, metal, glass or the like.

Slots 24 are disposed at a more acute angle than that formed by straight lines from the upper edge ofthe mats to the base of the. slots, so that the sides of the mats l9 and 20 are bent into slightly concave form,'producing sufiicient friction between themselves and the sides of the slots to retain the parts in position. The bending also' increases the pressure between the mats 19 and 20 and flaps 22, so that the pictures are firmly held in place.

While the flaps are shown as extending beyond the pictures in all directions, theycan, of course, be cut away so-that they are only strips, cornershaped pieces or the like.

While we have described the illustrated embodiments of our invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and we do not therefore limit ourselves to the precise details shown and described herein, but claim as our invention all embodiments, variations and modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim: 1. A display device comprising two sheets of flexible resilient material secured together along one edge by a substantially limp connection, openings therethrough, means for .securing other sheets of material to said first mentioned sheets so that they may be viewed through the openings, and a supporting means common to said two first mentioned sheets and causing them to mutually flex each other.

2. A display device comprising two sheets of V flexible resilient material, openings therethrough,

ing them to bear upon each other to mutually flex each other.

4. A display device comprising two sheets or flexible resilient opaque material secured together along their upper edges and having openings therethrough, a flexible flap secured to each sheet throughout a portion of its periphery, each sheet and its associatedf'flap being adapted to support an article to be viewed through the opening, and a base provided with slots adapted to receive the lower ends of said first mentioned sheets and disposed at an angle to maintain the sheets when inserted in flexed position.

5. A display device comprising two sheets of flexible resilient opaque material secured together along their upper edges and having openings therethrough, flexible transparent material secured to said sheets and overlying said openings,

a flexible flap secured to each sheet throughout a portion of its periphery, and having an opening therethrough, and a base provided-with slots adapted to receive the lower ends of said flrst mentioned sheets and disposed at an angle to hold the sheets ingflexed position bearing upon each other.

6.'A display device comprising two sheets of I flexible resilient opaque material secured together along their upper edges and having openings therethrough, a flexible flap secured to each sheet through a portion of its periphery, and a base provided with slots adapted to receivethe lower ends of said sheets and disposed at a more obtuse angle than would be assumed by the sheets if left free at their unattached edges and if these edges were separated by the same distance as are the slots.

WILLIAM s. McLEI SH. HARRY'W. TUCKER. 

